Perfect Tomato Salad

Absolutely scrumptious and so simple to make this Perfect Tomato Salad makes a great side dish to almost any meal. Save this fresh, healthy, low-calorie Uzbek tomato salad recipe, because you’ll want to use it again and again!

I love this tomato salad for many reasons: it is quick, very flavorful, healthy and requires just a few simple ingredients. Chances are you already have all the necessary ingredients on hand. Why not give it a try? I promise, you are going to love it. 🙂

Many years ago I used to work as a server in a restaurant called “Uzbekistan.” It was a small, family-owned establishment where the owners really loved to share the recipes for the best food Uzbekistan had to offer. I learned how to cook their famous Uzbek Pilaf there, but, more importantly, I learned how to make this Uzbek Tomato Salad. They call it Achuchuk and it is very popular in Uzbekistan. Today, I am sharing this recipe with you, and I am sure you are going to make it more than once.

HOW TO CHOOSE THE BEST TOMATOES

To make a PERFECT Tomato Salad, you’ll need to get the best tomatoes. Best place to find fresh and flavorful tomatoes is your garden. 🙂 If you don’t have one, you can still find good tomatoes at the farmers market or your local grocery store. When shopping for tomatoes, look for bright colors, plum skin and aroma. Yes, tomatoes should be fragrant, which indicates that they were ripened by the sun. If they have no aroma at all, the tomatoes were probably picked when immature, and they are lacking sweetness and flavor. Check out this Guide to Picking the Best Tomato at the Grocery Store for more info.

HOW TO MAKE PERFECT TOMATO SALAD

The trick to making this Perfect Tomato Salad is using a VERY sharp knife. You must slice the tomatoes and onions as thin as possible. If you use a dull knife, you are just going to smash the tomatoes and squeeze all the juice out. So, make sure you sharpen your knife before starting to make this salad. If you don’t have a good knife sharpener at home, now it’s time to get one!!! There is nothing worse, than chopping and prepping food with a dull knife. My husband is crazy about this Professional Knife Sharpener for Straight and Serrated Knives. Check it out, it is very easy to use.

OK, now, that I got you all excited about this tomato salad recipe and shamed you for not having sharp knives at home :-), I think it’s time to start cooking!

INGREDIENTS FOR PERFECT TOMATO SALAD:

6 plum tomatoes

1 small onion

1/4 tsp. of salt

1/4 tsp. of black pepper

1/8 tsp. of cayenne pepper (optional, but recommended)

1/2 tsp. red wine vinegar

1/2 tbsp. of olive oil

INSTRUCTIONS:

1) Cut the tomatoes in half and slice into very thin pieces.

2) Repeat this step with onion as well.

3) Place the veggies into a medium mixing bowl and add the rest of the ingredients.

4) Mix everything well. I think it’s best to use your hands to gently mix the salad, but spoon works too.

That’s it! The Perfect Tomato Salad is ready. Super fresh, packed with flavor and nutrients, there is no wonder why Uzbek people love this salad so much. Serve it with rice, potatoes, grains or just a slice of fresh bread. Enjoy!

Watch how to make this Tomato Salad in the recipe card

Perfect Tomato Salad

Absolutely scrumptious and so simple to make this Perfect Tomato Salad makes a great side dish to almost any meal. Save this fresh, healthy, low-calorie Uzbek tomato salad recipe, because you'll want to use it again and again!